The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-06
THE JEW OF R0UDNIA.

between Minsk and the gulf Of Bothnia
Offered no attractions 10 retain the trav-
eler. The villages and cities succeeded
each other along the interminable route,
differing only in the quantity Of the houses,
the number Of the cabins and the size and
importance Of the churches.
But all the same. we may as well con-
fess, the sight Of the post stations gave MS
a joy the most picturesque scenery could
never have aroused. Ii was necessary, as
/ have already stated, to press on as
speedily us possible, for a thousand and
one accidents conspired % delay us
which, with leisure and time 10 spare,
would have amounted 20 nothing. We
had neither, and 30 really began 90 seem
n if "a fatality attended AS. The route
we had taken, am obscure and unimp0rt-
ant one. perhaps had q great deal 20 do
with our misf0rtuucs. but once embarked
upon it we had only 10 keep 0n.
"Somc fr.ghtul catastrophe is going
20 happen 20 us" said 90 my travelling
companion; destiny, in her present hue
NOR, VIII never De content with less.
bad scarcely finished my sentence
when the position, turning in his seat,
pointed with the end of bis whip 90 "a vile
lace lying the distance "It is burning. "
said he. phlcgmaticlily. AS Dee spoke the
base Of She sky darkcned by approaching
night. suddenly Redeemed. the outline of
the b0urg became clearly visible the tin
covered cupolt of the mission church re-
ilecting the glare Of tive mounting flames
like the face of badly plated mirror
"What is the name of the villagew /
said 10 the position, as he thrashed his
horses 10 greater speed.
"ROudnia, ne responded, "the city Of
ROudnia for 10 all Russian OF Polish
peasants their bourgs are cities, provided
they cluster about q church This city Of
Roudnia was more fortunate than most Of
them, for 10 possessed two churches. one
of which was Catholic.
The horses, vigorously urged ahead,
soon gained the red, white and black beam
which forms the barrier of most Polish
cities. An official in a frayed and greasy
uniform received the toll and we were of
again, the horses. who asked nothing bet
ter than 80 arrive az their stable, running
on the gallop through the dirty and ill
smelling streets. s sWarm.ng crowd pre-
tipitated themselves in the same direction
toward the light of the lre-aud soon
we could scarcely move for The thr0nes
Of excited men and women who ram boz
side us.
CIT is the house Of jew that is burn
Ing said the position suddenly STA
Wnippm. his horses 90 urge them faster
"Why how do you know that's asked
my companion seriously
elbow do / KNOW itt' cried the rascal
laushns ul son could soc down h.s
tAroat, "beuuse 30 s,uss SO of grease
Here The cllash br-kiy turned the core
ner at the risk OF q serious upset, and we
stopped before Oh. postal station. As the
man had said. it wf, truly the house of
Jew, Jewish butcher, which burned so
furously just in front of U.S. on the side
Of the Place.
The corehgionists Of the poor devil
were removing his furniture through Che
window in front, stu. as the fire had
caught iu the rear, untouched and black,
with that profound blackness which all
ways prcccdes combustion Wrcaths o.
yellow smoke filtered here and there
throu ,h the roof -foreruuncrs of the CON
n grafton that would not bee long i'm com
in.
while my companion busted himself in
making them give MS other horses and
sign our passports, ] remained upon the
steps of tie station, raised several feet
above the level of the place. gazing at Tbs
scene 4 fire is by no means new oc-
currcnce ia Poland, but when 10 is the
house of q jew only Jews run 20 bis as
sistancc The Others-Cathol,c-, mean
remain immoyable, not perhaps without q
secret satisfaction, for thus perish the
badly acquired goods of these sons Of
Abraham This brutal inhummity is cX-
planned II not excused. 10y the rapacity of
=. Che Israeiitcs, who, thanks 90 their cCm-
mcrc.ul skill. keep in their own hands the
better portion Of the revenue of these I'M
happy people, generally very poor, and
Still more impoverished boy the system Of
usury practiccd in the country.
The wife and children of the butcher, |
seated i'm the center Of the place. filed the /
air with piaintye cries, the dogs banked, /
and our waiting horses constantly shook /
Cher collars of bells. All this made up /
hubbub impossible 90 describe. and | was /
comp He'd to at0p my ears. suddenly ! /
saw the Jews engaged in carrying ont the /
furniture rush prccipitately through the /
door anl windows of the house. A wave |
Of smoke filled the room they had left and |
q red light famed IN its depths-the inner |
walls had caught at last.
1t burns well, - TRANQUILITY murmured /
voice at my elbow / turned to find /
huge Cossack soldier, clothed in his gray F.
capote and swinging his arms to keep him
self warm, standing beside me. lie was
watching the fire with undisguised salts
faction, and by the twinkle in his eye
suspected that ne had taken too many
gla sses Of eau dc vie.
"Ah, miserable miserable mcN walled
the butcher loudly. standing in the middle
Of the place rcCarfing with CONSERVATION
his moaning family. II tore Isis hair and
his curls fairly quyered on his head in the
rapiliiy and impetuosity of his movements
miserable miserable me. he con-
tnued, II have forgottenmy old motherr
A burst of laughter was the Poles only
answer.
'But thought she was with you, cried
his wife approaching him. "Whcre is
sne? Tell us quick With gesture Of
despair he pointed TO the house. then COW